Power operated pruning apparatus



Jan. 14, 1941. G, w, MAGENNIS 2,228,635

fowER OPRATED PRUNING APPARATUS Yliled Nov. 25', 1958 Y2 Sheets-Sheet l /VrToRNEyS G. W. MAGENNIS POWER OPERAT'ED PRUNING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1938 Jan. 14, 1941.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 2,228,635 rowEn orERA'rED rnoNmo. Arrm'ros George W. Magennls, Akron, Ohio Application November 25, 1938, Serial No. 242,164 a claims (ci. aci-245) This invention relates to power operated pruning apparatus, and more especially it relates to hydraulically operated apparatus for operating a cutting instrumentality, such as a shears, that 5 is located relatively remote from the power member.

' The chief objects of the inventionare to provide a pruning apparatus that may be used with equal facility for pruningV relatively high fruit and shade trees and relatively low bushes and shrubs; to provide a mobile apparatus that readily may be moved from place to place; to provide a pruning apparatus that may be operated with but little manual effort; and to provide, in appal5 ratus of the character mentioned, a cutter mounting of readily variable length whereby the apparatus is adapted forpruning near the ground or at substantial elevation above ground. ther objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figur 1 is a plan view of mobile apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, on a larger scale, showing the interlock between two units of the extensible cutter mounting;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, on a'larger scale, through the telescoped units of the cutter mounting, at the upper ends thereof, with said units in locked position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the cutter support; and

Figure 5 is an elevation of another embodiment of the cutter structure such as may be used for cutting light gauge sheet metal and the like.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a mobile wheeled vehicle or truck I0 upon which the power unit of the apparatus is mounted, saidl truck being provided with a handle 40 u|I by means of which it may be manually propelled to the desired location for use. Mounted upon the truck I0 is a motor, herein shown as an internal combustion engine I2, said engine being supplied with fuel drawn from a gasoline tank I3 positioned adjacent thereto. For starting the engine I2, a starting pedal I4 is provided, which .pedal is operatively connected to starting apparatus (not shown) that has a gear-connection with a gear I5 mounted upon the crank-shaft I6 of the engine I2. Also mounted upon said crank- Ashaft I6 is driving pulley I1 that is connected by a transmission belt I8 with a driven pulley I9,

that latter being mounted upon a. shaft 29 that is journaled in a bearing bracket 2|. Fixedly mounted upon shaft 20 is a small gear 22 that is upon shaft 24, the latter also being journaled in bearing bracket 2|. Also mounted upon shaft 24 is a relatively small gear 25 that is meshed with a relatively large gear 23 that is mounted upon a bushing 21 that is journaled in the bearing bracket 2|. Journaled at one end in bushing 21 meshed with a larger gear 23 that is mounted l the pressure of spring 32. 4The shipper lever 33 is manually operated by means subsequently to be described. 'I'he arrangement is such that the gear 26 is driven whenever the motor I2 is running, but the shaft 29 is rotated only when clutch element 30 operatively is engaged with clutch element 3|. The gear reduction between the motor I2 and the gear 26 is such that the latter rotates at 12 to 15 R. P. M.

Between clutch element 30 `and bearing bracket 29 the shaft 29 has a cam 35 fixed thereon, which cam operates a pump. Said pump comprises a horizontally arranged cylinder 36 that is carried by a suitable supporting bracket 31, one end of said cylinder being provided with a port 39 for fluid, such as oil or glycerine, contained in said pump.' At its other end a piston 39 is slidably mounted in the cylinder, which piston is arranged to be forced forwardly into the cylinder by means of a piston rod 40 that extends into an axial socket 4| formed in the outer end of the piston. The piston rod 40 preferably is of V,

adjustable length, and is slidably mounted for reciprocatory movementln a bearing structure 31a formed on the bracket 31, the end of the piston rod remote from piston 39 being provided with a cam roller 42 that is engageable by cam 35, the latter being shaped so as to force the piston rod toward the piston 39. Connected to the port 38 is a fluid link 43 that extends to the cutting mechanism of the apparatus, said link consisting of iiexible tubing, such as rubber reinforced with metal. Mounted in said fluid link is a. relief valve 44 having a return connection 45 back to a reserve tank 46 mounted upon the pump, said reserve tank having restricted communication with the pump, as is well understood.

The cutting mechanism of the apparatus comprises a head 41 to which a stationary cutting member 481s secured by means of bolts 48, I8. Cutting member 481s formed with an arcuate shearing edge 58, and cooperating with the latter is a movable arcuate blade 8i that is pivotally mounted at 82 upon stationary member 48. Ii desired the latter may include a short saw 5,3, and a brush hook 54, both of which may be advantageously employed, upon occasion, during tree and brush pruning operations. The cutting mechanism utilizes the power of the previously described pump for moving the cutter blade 5i into shearing relation with the stationary shearing edge 58, and to this end a fluid pressure operated cylinder 55 is mounted in the head 41. the-fluid link 43 from said pump being connected to said cylinder and discharging into an end thereof. Slidably mounted -within cylinder 55 is a piston 88, the outer end face of which is formed with a socket 51 in which is received one end of a piston rod 58 the other encl of the latterbeing pivotally connected at 58 to the back of cutter blade 5i. A tension spring 88 connected to one of the bolts 88 and to the pivot pin at 58 normally urges the blade 5I to open position, and urges the piston 88 toward the closed end of cylinder 58, there being a cushioning spring 8i positioned between the piston and said closed end of the cylinder. The arrangement is such that pulsation of the uid in link 88 moves the piston 58 outwardly of its cylinder 55 and thus moves the blade 5i relatively of the cutting edge 88 in a shearing action. The spring 88 restores the blade 5i to open position and forces the fluid in the link 88 back toward the pump.

The cutting mechanism described isl portable and is carried at the end of a sectional pole, the sections of which are telescopically arranged, to the end that the effective length of the pole may be selectively varied as desired. As shown, the pole consists of three sections, each of which may be atleast three feet in length so that the extended structure will have a length of nine feet at least. The tubular pole-sections are designated 62, 83 and 88, of which the section 82 is of largest diameter, section 83 is of intermediate diameter and fits within section 82, and section 88 is of smallest diameter and fits within section 88, means being provided for interlocking the sections with each other to maintain them in proper position in the extended condition of the pole.

Pole section 82, which is of largest diameter, constitutes the base or handle portion of the pole. That end of section 82 into which section 88 is fitted is provided interiorly with a tubular sleeve or bushing 88 that is welded or otherwise permanently fixed therein, the lower or inner margin of said bushing being formed with an angular lug or projection 81 that constitutes one element of a bayonet connection. The bushing 88 is of such inside diameter that the pole section 68 has an easy sliding fit therein. Permanently fixed upon the lower end of the section 83, exteriorly thereof and below the bushing 86 of section 82, is a sleeve or bushing 88, the upper margin of which is formed with an undercut slot or recess 88 that constitutes the female element of a bayonet connection. When the bayonet elements 81, 88 are interengaged as shown in Fig. 2, the pole sections 82, 88 are locked in extended relation. The sections readily are collapsed by giving them a slight relative angular movement suiilcient to disengage the lug 81 from the recess 88 of bushing 88, after which said sections may be substantially completely telescoped. In like manner the upper end of section 83 is provided interiorly with a bushing 18 having an angular bayonet lug 1I on the lower margin thereof, and the lower end of section 84 is provided exteriorly with a bushing 12 having a bayonet slot 13 therein, the arrangement being such that the sections 83, 84 may be interlocked in extended position, or telescoped together, in the same manner as sections 82, 83. When the pole sections are in collapsed, telescoped relation it is desirable that they be prevented from turning angularly relatively of each other and to this end the upper end of the section 82 is formed with a. pair of diametrically opposed notches or recesses 15, and the upper end of section 83 is provided with a clrcumscribing collar 18, the under side of which is provided with lugs 11 that are receivable in notches 15 in the collapsed condition of the pole. In like manner the upper face of collar 18 is formed with a pair of notches or recesses 18, and the pole section 88 is provided with a collar 18 formed with lugs 88 that are receivable in said notches 18. The outer end of section 81 is fixed within the cylinder 58 of the cutting apparatus, the collar 18 being mounted upon the section a little below said cylinder. The flexible fluid link 83 extends freely through the several pole sections to connect with the cylinder 85, and is readily withdrawn through the lower end of section 82 when the sections are collapsed to shorten the pole.

In order to facilitate the operation of the cutting mechanism, means is provided on the pole for manually causing the pump to operate and thereby to effect operation of the cylinder 55 that controls the cutter blade 5|. Said operating means consists of a lever 88 that is pivotally mounted at 88 in a bracket-like fixture 88 that is secured to pole section 82. near the lower end thereof, said lever 88 being arranged to be depressed by the thumb of the operator. Connected to the lever 83 at the opposite end thereof from the thumb-engaging portion, is one end of a flexible cable 88 which cable is slidably encased in a flexible sheath 81. The sheath 81 may be attached to the pole section 82 by clips 88, 88, and may be connected to the fluid link 88 by clips 88. The sheath and cable extend to the truck I8 where they are secured to stationary structures thereon by suitable clips 88, the end of cable 88 being connected to shipper lever 88. The latter has the end thereof remote from clutch member 38 pivotally mounted upon bracket 81 at 8i.

In the operation of the apparatus, the motor is put into operation by the starter pedal i8, and continues to run as long as the cutting mechanism is in use. The spring 82 normally keeps the clutch elements 88, 8| in separated position so that the shaft 28 and cam 38 are stationary. When it is desired to operate the cutting mechanism, the operator simply depresses lever 83, which operates shipper lever 83 to move clutch element 38 into driving engagement with driven clutch member 3i, thus causing rotation of shaft 28 and cam 35. The latter drives piston rod 88 into the pump and causes the fluid therein to ow toward the cylinder 55 of the cutting mechanism, the piston 8B of the latter being thereby Vforced outwardly to move the blade 5i, against the tension of spring 88, to the cutting position indicated by broken lines in Fig. l of the drawings. As soon as continued rotation of the cam 85 releases the pressure upon the piston rod 48, the spring 88 restores the blade 5i cylinder 55 and the iiuid in the link l0 is forced back toward the pump. The operation described will continue as long as the lever 03 is in depressed condltiomat the rate of 12 to 15 operations a minute. 'Ihe operation of the cutter is the same whether the pole thereof is in extended or collapsed condition.

By means of the apparatus of the invention, pruning operations at high or low elevationsvmay be carried out expeditiously and with little manual ecrt. The arrangement is such that the pump is operated only when it is desired to operate the cutting mechanism, thereby saving wear upon the pump and iiuid link. The apparatus is adapted for all kinds of pruning work.. and achieves the other objects set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is shown a modiied embodiment of the sectional pole upon which the cutting mechanism is mounted. Said pole comprises three sections, namely, 62a, 63a and 64a, which sections are of different diameters so as to interflt one within another. The largest section 62a, which constitutes the base of the pole, has its upper end portion exteriorly threaded at 94, andis provided interiorly with a sleeve that projects somewhat beyond the end of the section, the portion within the section being permanently secured thereto. 'I'he inside diameter of the sleeve 95 is such that the pole section 63a has an easy sliding fit therein, and that portion of the sleeve that projects beyond the end of section 62a is exteriorly tapered, as shown at 96, and formed with a circumferential series of longitudinally extending slots 91, 91. Threaded onto portion 94 oi' section 62a is a cap or gland 98 having an overhanging portion 98a that is interiorly tapered complemental to the taper of sleeve 95, and adapted ltoongage the slotted tapered portion of the latter to force it radially inwardly in clamping relation with pole section 63a that extends therethrough. The arrangement is such that pole section 52a, 63a may be secured together at an innite number of positions between fully extended position and fully telescoped position.

In like manner the upper end of pole section 63 -is provided interiorly with a sleeve |00 that projects therefrom, the projecting portion being exterlorly taperedand longitudinally slotted. A cap or gland |0| threaded onto the upper end of section 63a has a tapered portion that is engageable with the tapered end portion of sleeve |00 to force the latter inwardly against the pole section 64a that extends therethrough. The cutter body 41 and cylinder 55 are carried upon the upper end of pole section 64a, and the fluid link 43 extends through the tubular pole sections in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. The sectional pole shown in Fig. 4, has a greater range of adjustability than that previously described, and the sections are firmly held together in all positions of adjustment. The pole sections are readily separable from each other and one or two sections may be dispensed with in case a short pole is desired, thus lightening the weight of the pole. It will be understood that the poles may comprise more than three sections if desired.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, which is especially adapted for the cutting of light gauge sheetmetal, comprises a stationary cutting element |04 that is formed integral with a shank portion |05, on one end thereof, the other end of said shank portion having a handle I 06 secured thereto for convenience of manipulation. Secured to the shank portion |05 is a head 4l that carries a fluid pressure operated cylinder 55 in which 1s a piston 56, the outer end face of the latter being formed with a socket 51 that receives one end of a piston rod 58. The other endof the latter vis pivotally connected at 59 to the back of a movablecutter blade 5|, the latter cooperating with the stationary cutter member |04 in a shearing action. The blade 5| is pivotally mounted upon the shank |05 at 52, and a tension spring 60 connecting the pivot 59 to a ilxed point on said shank normally urges the blade toward open position. Fluid pressure is conducted to the cylinder 55 through the fluid link 43. Except for the stationary cutter member |04, shank |05 and handle |00, the elements described are identical with those of the previously described embodiment of the invention. The same power apparatus and pump may be employed as in the previously described embodiment. If desired, an operating lever similar to lever 83, may be mounted upon the handle |06, but said lever may be positioned elsewhere for foot-operation if such arrangement is found to be preferable.

Other modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as deiined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In power operated pruning apparatus comprising a cutter,'the combination of a fluid pressure operated cylinder including a piston to which said cutter is connected and operated by reciprocation thereof, means adapted periodically to discharge liquid into said cylinder, yielding means opposing the pressure of said liquid adapted to retract said piston periodically as the liquid pressure is withdrawn, and manually operable means controlling the operation of the liquid-discharging means.

2. In lower operated pruning apparatus comprising a cutter, the combination of a portable fluid pressure operated cylinder including a piston to which said cutter is operatively connected, and operated by reciprocation of said piston, a reciprocating pump adapted periodically to discharge liquid into said cylinder, yielding means operatively connected to the piston of said cylinder for periodically forcing liquid from the cylinder back toward the pump, power means for driving the pump, and manually operable means for engaging and disengaging the pump from its driving means.

3. In power operated pruning apparatus, the combination of a portable fluid pressure operated cylinder, is fixedly positioned cutter member supported by said cylinder, a movable cutter member cooperating with the aforesaid cutter member and operatively connected to the piston of said cylinder, a reciprocating pumpefor liquid, a liquidconducting pipe connecting said cylinder to said pump whereby the latter periodically discharges liquid into said cylinder, yielding means connected to the piston of the cylinder for periodically forcing liquid from the cylinder back to the pump, manually operable means for starting and stopping the pump as a means for controlling operation of the cutter, and a relief valve having connection with said pipe and said pump.

GEORGE W. MAGENNIS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent zzo-.2,228,655 January 11;, 19m.

GEORGE w. MAGENNIS. 1

It is hereby certified that error appear; in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, seond column, line 5'?, claim 5, for the word "is" read -a; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office.-

Signed yand sealed this lltn day of February, A; D. 1914.1.

Henry Van Arsdalee (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

